#2dare To Read The Bible Series

#2 Dare to read the Bible

By WadeMartin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Psa. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Matt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, YE DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, NOR THE POWER OF GOD.

2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUST shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. Let’s not seek fables and stories,

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent?...17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God.

Matthew 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

THE 23RD CHANNEL

Author unknown

THE TV IS MY SHEPHERD,

I SHALL NOT WANT.

IT MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN ON THE SOFA.

IT LEADS ME AWAY FROM THE BIBLE,

IT DESTROYS MY SOUL.

IT LEADS ME DOWN

PATHS OF SEX AND VIOLENCE,

FOR THE SPONSOR’S SAKE.

YEA, THOUGH I WALK IN THE SHADOW

OF MY CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITIES,

THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTIONS,

FOR THE TV AND VCR ARE WITH ME.

IT’S SATELLITE DISH AND REMOTE CONTROL,

THEY COMFORT ME.

IT PREPARES COMMERCIALS BEFORE ME,

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TV GUIDE,

IT ANOINTS MY HEAD WITH HUMANISM.

MY COVETING RUNNETH OVER!

SURELY, LAZINESS AND IGNORANCE

SHALL FOLLOW ME AND MY CHILDREN,

ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE;

AND I SHALL DWELL ON THE COUCH

IN THE HOUSE

WATCHING TV FOREVER.

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

I am pondering today, BIBLE STUDY and personal devotions.

The word of God does the work of God.

We practice our music, harmonize our singing, fine tune our programs, polish our speaking skills, build nicer buildings in better locations, as we focus on the physical.

All this is good, but we must not lose focus on what is important. The Word of God is powerful and the greatest tool to a sustained revival.

Mat. 22:29, Jesus answered and said unto them, YE DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, NOR THE POWER OF GOD.

My Harlequin Romance Theory is simple: we can read for hours things of little value -- then forget God’s word to us.

Magazines and books lie all around.

We read more of the TV preachers’ books, then the word of God.

To give unsought advice is the act of a fool,

but if I could say anything to you as a gray headed man, I would say --

BE A DAILY BIBLE STUDENT --

Lay aside the hit books of the successful, until you have enriched your life with the

real eternal words.

Stats say the average pastor reads less than 10 chapters a week from the word of

God?

Weak in the word means weak individuals? weak Churches? weak families? and a

weak society?

Read Matthew 22:29, failure comes from a lack of the word!

We are anemic, there is little forceful soulwinning, we misunderstand giving,

because everything takes priority over the Word in the church today.

I am not harping on the trivial, I am a daily Bible reader and have read it through twice this past year from cover to cover.

This does not count my study reading. We are better when we hide God’s words in our heart.

If I had but one opportunity to help, I would tell you --

YOU WILL NEVER RISE ABOVE IN PUBLIC WHAT YOUR BIBLE READING

AND PRAYER LIFE IS IN SECRET.

Prayer and Bible reading are disciplines, it is not easy to be a PRAYER WARRIOR, but prayer and the Bible are good investments.

We have tapes and books about prayer, we listen and read -- When all is said and done about prayer, usually more is said than done. We have prayer seminars and sing for hours? We take prayer request for minutes and pray for seconds? Where is my witness?

Our principle cause of leanness, comes from a lack of commitment to a regular, daily Bible study and prayer life.

We grow more and more skeletons, because we think another committee or a bigger budget will accomplish the work of the Lord?

GROW UP! God builds on those that know His Word and how to FAST AND PRAY.

The Word has established, some things can only be overcome by fasting and prayer. So we buy a book of the gospel stars and read why they have had revival. Call the church to dinner and see the crowd? Call them to prayer and see? Why?